- A total of 80 independent garages and franchise dealerships on Shetland Mainland, the Isle of Lewis, the Isle of Bute, the Isle of Man, Anglesey, the Isle of Wight, Jersey and Guernsey, have committed to abide by one or more of The Motor Ombudsman’s Codes of Practice this year
- Any of the thousands of business signed up to the body’s CTSI-approved Service and Repair and Vehicle Sales Codes can be found at the touch of a button by consumers on the organisation’s popular online Garage Finder
- The Motor Ombudsman provides one of the most comprehensive UK-wide networks of Code of Practice-accredited businesses for motorists looking to buy, repair or service a car
The Motor Ombudsman, the automotive dispute resolution provider, has started the new year on a strong footing, after businesses on eight islands off the coast of the UK renewed their annual accreditation to its Codes of Practice for 2020. This mirrored the nationwide trend of the thousands of businesses that have also committed to abide by one or more of The Motor Ombudsman’s Codes this year.
A total of 80 independent garages and franchise dealerships in locations beyond the mainland repledged their commitment to conform with the best practice guidelines and high standards of the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI)-approved Service and Repair and/or Vehicle Sales Codes. In the far north, customers in Lerwick on Shetland Mainland have the peace of mind that they have access to businesses that strive for higher standards of work and service than those required by law. Similarly, consumers near to Scotland in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis and Rothesay on the Isle of Bute equally have a choice of car retailers and repairers that are signed up to The Motor Ombudsman.
Moving further south, drivers on Anglesey and on the Isle of Man, the largest islands of the Irish Sea, have the reassurance that they are able to use local car retailers and repairers that operate in accordance with the stringent requirements of being a part of The Motor Ombudsman’s garage network when buying a vehicle or when having it repaired. In fact, the ‘off-shore’ areas with the highest concentration of Motor Ombudsman garages that have renewed for 2020, are on the Isle of Wight, and the Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey, with accredited businesses found in four different towns on each of these islands.
Furthermore, as part of The Motor Ombudsman’s continued commitment to providing today’s consumers with the greatest possible coverage of businesses adhering to its Codes of Practice in the UK, its existing garage network extends to all six counties of Northern Ireland, and from Penzance in Cornwall, England, to Kildary in Ross-Shire in Scotland. Any business that meets the criteria to be a part of either the Service and Repair or Vehicle Sales Codes, can enjoy the additional benefit of being listed on The Motor Ombudsman’s popular online Garage Finder, an important lead generation tool, where customers can send an enquiry directly to those companies that are featured.
Bill Fennell, Chief Ombudsman and Managing Director of The Motor Ombudsman, said: “Our vision for 2020 and beyond is for an even greater proportion of vehicle owners and drivers to have a Motor Ombudsman-accredited garage, repairer or dealership in their local area, regardless of whether they live on one of the eight islands or on the mainland. Adhering to a recognised Code of Practice, and being able to offer consumers the peace of mind that they are never too far away from a business that is going the extra mile, is an important differentiator in today’s competitive climate and should not be overlooked.”
To access The Motor Ombudsman’s online Garage Finder, visit www.themotorombudsman.org/garage-finder.